Opening a salon with a passion for beauty and styling is always a significant business venture. With plenty of people having the desire to look and feel appealing, putting in enough planning and effort will help you achieve the desired results.
Having a startup checklist will make your planning more efficient. You will also get time to procure the funds needed to start business operations.
Chapter Overview
1. Buy Salon Furniture And Equipment
For a salon to work seamlessly, you must get the right furniture and equipment ready. You will need a computer system with the latest scheduling and management software. This software will help you fill your books and keep your appointments in check.
You can get your furniture from salonfurniture.co.uk or other similar sites so you can have them delivered on site. Tables, nail stations, mirrors, chairs, shampoo bowls, cleaning towels, hairdryers, and other pieces of equipment, will allow your team to provide a wide variety of services to your future clients.
Additionally, you will need to procure a plumber’s services to install shampoo bowls and sinks for washing towels and other items.
2. Set Up A Legal Structure
Every business needs a legal structure, be it a sole proprietorship, a corporation, or limited liability corporation. Take note that if you do opt to be a limited liability corporation, your company will be protected from liabilities or damaged caused by unreasonable risks, but you won’t be recognized by the (IRS) Internal Revenue Service as a taxable classification.
Whether you decide to be the sole proprietor or choose to get a partner, you will risk losing everything if you sued a client. This is why you will need to learn the pros and cons of all three legal structures and settle on one that suits you. Once you pick a legal structure, you should visit the IRS website to apply for a federal tax identification number, which will be vital for tax purposes.
3. Draft A Business Plan
When drafting a plan, you could start by creating an essential document using free online templates as a reference. A well-crafted business plan is vital when you acquire funding from different places so having it in the form of a tried-and-tested format is a good idea.
A great plan will have a detailed company description that explains everything entailing your business. It should also have a mission statement that explains what your business stands for. Additionally, it should contain an analysis of the market in your area that will define the possibility of having competition.
You will need to describe your salon’s services and the staffing requirements in your plan. Last but not least you should also add the required amount of budget necessary to start your business if you need funding.
4. Apply For Your Insurances And Licenses
You can get your license as a salon owner from your state’s cosmetology department or any relevant licensing agency in your place. Your entire staff, especially the stylists, should have the proper licenses or training certificates that permit them to offer the different services your salon will provide.
You also need to schedule an appointment with a representative. This representative will come and verify the location of your salon and ensure that it meets local state requirements.
Your salon will need to be up to par with the government’s electrical, sanitation and fire codes. Additionally, you will also need to discuss what types of insurance your salon needs to keep you protected in the case of liability, damage, and theft.
5. Choose A Location
One of the most crucial elements on your checklist is the location of your salon. You may need to consider several aspects of the location, such as the amount of foot traffic and visibility of the salon. A strategically-placed salon will naturally attract clients to itself just by being at a convenient spot.
The size of your business location will influence how much room you can spare for additional services and how you will prevent congestion. Your salon may or may not have its dedicated parking space, which may affect how convenient your salon is for a potential customer. When searching for a location, consider getting a commercial space with a minimum of 1000 square feet. Keep in mind that the premises should also be clean and inviting and everything from workstations to bathroom partitions must be in great condition.
6. Acquire Salon Supplies
Now that you have acquired everything else, you will need to stock up on some essentials. Some of these items include shampoos, oils, and conditioners. As for styling, you will need rollers, rods, brushes, scissors, combs, hair coloring products, hair sprays, gels, and mousse.
In addition, you should add supply trolleys, rods, body and nail products.
Bottom Line
Venturing into the salon business is a great decision that needs excellent planning. For you to plan appropriately, you will need to have a checklist with the following essentials:
- You will need to buy furniture and salon equipment required to accomplish the job
- Decide on a legal structure that will best suit your business.
- Draft a business plan that will be vital when acquiring funding from different sources.
- Apply for our insurances and licenses that will make your business legal.
- Choose a location with foot traffic and excellent visibility.
- Finally, acquire salon supplies, and you will be ready to start your journey.